The apology came after the festival, known in Quebec as Rencontres Internationales du Documentaire Montréal, or RIDM, hosted a public panel discussion Nov. 12 with Indigenous filmmakers about the ethics around the creation of Gagnon’s film.

The festival was prompted to respond when an audience member asked the organization if it still stood behind its decision to show the film.

“After a process of reflection, after listening, discussing and consulting with many people, including Inuit and members of First Nations, the RIDM recognizes that it was wrong to present the film of the North in 2015,” the festival said in a Nov. 17 release.

“The RIDM officially apologizes for its mistake, and for its initial response to the criticism it received.”

The festival’s senior management apologized for showing a film “with a colonial perspective that perpetuates racist stereotypes” and committed itself to better dialogue and inclusion moving forward.

The film’s critics welcomed the apology, but note that there are a number of other Quebec organizations who supported the film, including the Quebec government agency Société de développement des entreprises culturelles, which awarded the filmmaker a $30,000 grant.